Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 27 April 2017.BASF SE v European Union Intellectual Property Office.EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark DINCH — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptiveness — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009.Case T-721/15.

Judgment // 27/04/2017 // 2 min read
bookmark 118 citations

Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber) of 27 April 2017 — BASF v EUIPO — Evonik Industries (DINCH)

(Case T‑721/15)

(EU trade mark — Invalidity proceedings — EU word mark DINCH — Absolute grounds for refusal — Descriptiveness — Lack of distinctive character — Article 7(1)(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 — Article 52(1)(a) of Regulation No 207/2009)

  1. EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Aim — Need to preserve availability

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 18, 49)

  1. EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Concept

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 19, 20, 24)

  1. EU trade mark — Definition and acquisition of the EU trade mark — Absolute grounds for refusal — Marks composed exclusively of signs or indications capable of designating the characteristics of a product or service — Concept — Mark composed of a word or neologism resulting from a combination of elements

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 21, 22)

  1. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Assessment of the descriptive character of the trade mark — Criteria

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see para. 23)

  1. EU trade mark — Surrender, revocation and invalidity — Absolute grounds for invalidity — Registration contrary to Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation No 207/2009 — Word mark DINCH

(Council Regulation No 207/2009, Arts 7(1)(c), and 52(1)(a))

(see paras 38, 40-42, 50)

Re:

ACTION brought against the decision of the First Board of Appeal of EUIPO of 23 September 2015 (Case R 2080/2014-1), relating to invalidity proceedings between Evonik Industries and BASF.

Operative part

The Court:

  1. Dismisses the action;

  2. Orders BASF SE to pay the costs.

Trade marks